The Jubilation Student Choir from First Baptist Merritt Island in Florida spent several days in June at the Nashville Rescue Mission giving the walls a much-needed fresh coat of paint and organizing donations.
The Jubilation Choir is made up of students from 7th grade through their second year of college. Besides local concerts and activities, Jubilation travels every summer on a mission trip, presenting many free concerts and completing mission projects. This year, the group selected Nashville as one of their destinations and blessed the Mission with its time and energy.
“We take a mission trip every year and have been doing this since the early 80’s,” said Sheri Mercurio, Choir Director. “This year, the group was asked to sing the National Anthem at an Atlanta Braves game, so we prayed about destinations that would be within driving distance from Atlanta and God laid Nashville on our hearts.”
During their 9-day trip, the group traveled to Chattanooga, Nashville and Atlanta, giving free concerts at various churches, malls and ministries.
While at the Mission, the group spent many hours painting the walls on the second floor in preparation for moving the men’s program back upstairs. This following a year of the women living on the second floor at the men’s campus during the remodeling and reconstruction of the women’s campus. They also helped organize food donations and a library at the women’s campus.
“There is definite purpose and meaning in doing the things behind the scenes—the things no one sees,” said Fayez Ayoub, Youth Pastor of First Baptist Merritt Island. “We wanted the students to see that you can worship God even through stocking green beans.”
“I am incredibly proud of these kids,” said Mercurio. “It was a blessing to see the older kids helping the younger ones. These trips are great opportunities for spiritual growth.”
“We so appreciate the time and energy this group of talented students gave to the Mission,” said Nathan Peeples, Director of Volunteer Services at the Nashville Rescue Mission. “We could not do the things we do without the support of volunteers.”
If you’d like more information about the Jubilation Student Choir, click here.
If you’d like to learn more about volunteering at the Nashville Rescue Mission, click here.